6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
One of the joys children have is running into the arms of their parents. It is also a joy for grandparents! I love to watch my 18 month old grandson run toward me and get enveloped in my arms. There is a safety and security that is available in a parent’s arms that is not available other places. Those open arms symbolize acceptance and connection. When my grown kids come toward me, my arms stretch out to let them know they are welcome. As I remember back to some bumps in their roads, it was the embrace of acceptance that held them. They knew they had at least one place in the world where they were safe. Many of us did not grow up with as many hugs as we needed. There were times when we needed a good hug and our parents weren’t there to provide it. I vowed I would be generous with my hugs. In our passage the Lord uses that symbol of the outstretched arm when he talks about His people. When the Lord delivers them out of Egypt they will be going home to the land of promise. The Lord will be there with outstretched arms to welcome them. For a people who are now struggling under great stress and distress, having someone welcome them with open arms would be comforting. As I go through life, I realize the power of a hug. We don’t have enough welcoming physical contact, contact with no strings. Our sexualized culture has reduced physical touch among adults to one area, to one context. But the Lord shows us that He will use open arms to let His people know they are welcome. When used properly, our open arms can also provide a needed welcome, a needed “you are home.” I want to encourage you to have open arms toward those who fill your life.
The Arnold Journey 